Thursday, May 31, 2012

Phases of the Moon ~ Pie Crust Cookies


Sophia is learning Astronomy as part of their
final Science unit this year!

I love Astronomy!

To help her learn the phases of the moon,
we took left over pie crust (from the Patriotic Pie Crust Stars)
and made these pie crust cookies in the form
of each moon phase....how fun!



I took a round cookie cutter and let her cut out each
shape to match the diagram we used as a guide below. 

We used an Oreo cookie for the "New Moon"
(Sophia's Idea..good one too!!)



We had a great time.
When baking, we brushed the pie crust with
milk and topped with white sanding sugar to make it stand out.

LOVE YOU TO THE MOON & BACK!


Next, we made "planet cookies" which I will share 
soon...those turned out AWESOME too!  Thanks!!

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Mini Graduation Hat Cupcakes




Mini Graduation Hat Cupcakes!



I made these for the Kindergarten 
"Graduates" at Sophia's school!



Got the idea and how to from Lil Luna 
which you can find HERE!!

It is one of those ideas that you see and wonder...
hmmm is it really that simple
and the answer is YES. It is simple and they turn out 
exactly like you hope...like the picture!

HA!

So many times I have tried to make something 
I have seen on a blog or website only to find myself 
saying.....what the HECK am I doing wrong, it looks 
NOTHING like THE PICTURE!!! 

Oh..you have been there too?? Glad I am not alone.



Have great day!! 

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Patriotic Pie Crust Stars!


Patriotic Pie Crust Stars!



Looking for something easy to whip up 
for your Memorial Day BBQ??

So was I!



I loved all the great ideas, but truth be known, I
am just not feeling that adventurous lately.

These were ULTRA easy!


All you need is premade refrigerated pie crust,
milk, colored sugar and your oven!! 

Oh, ya...and some willing people to eat them up!

I cut out the pie crust with a star cookie cutter.
Then I brushed them with milk and sprinkled
the sugar on them as you see.  Next, I baked them
in my oven at 375 for about 8-9 minutes.



VIOLA!

Some other ideas from last year:







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Friday, May 25, 2012

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Tulips Against Tumors ~ Cupcake Style

May is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month




And today, I would like to celebrate the Tulip and 
tell you about Tulips Against Tumors. 

Special to my heart and life, it was more difficult
to find the words to write or desire to make something
to post this year. It has been a tough 6 months and 
something in me just felt that I didn't want to 
"celebrate" brain tumors.......



Then I remembered what drives my passion
for baking and this blog and I reached down in
my heart and also rekindled the passion I have
for brain tumor awareness and probably more
important to me is the recognition of research devoted
to rare diseases in general...ya know, the ones most
people can't pronounce.  Kinda like Oligodendrocytoma....

"Tulips are a beautiful symbol of hope and faith 
in a brighter future. Carefully planted in the fall, they 
reward our patience by bursting forth as 
glorious heralds of spring."



An annual fundraiser sponsored between the  
National Brain Tumor Society and Tulips Against Tumors 
meant to raise awareness and money to support research.

For more information visit HERE and HERE

My intention is not for the purchase of these bulbs
but to plant a seed in you today that will hopefully 
bloom for a long time.  That seed, I hope, is filled
with joy, love, faith and hope. 

It is filled with the knowledge that despite everything
you want to be, you are marvelous at what you are.

It is tendered by the water of compassion and empathy
for yourself and others. 

It is fertilized by the acts of kindness that fill your soul.

That is my hope. 

Hugs. 



The cupcakes were made by placing a chocolate cupcake
in a plastic plant pot as you see. I frosted it with chocolate
frosting and broken up oreo cookies for the "dirt". 
Next, I wrapped the stem of the tulip in plastic 
and "planted" it in my cupcake!


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Monday, May 21, 2012

Lavender Panna Cotta ~ Tea Party Tuesday!


Happy Tea Party Tuesday!!

Hope everyone had a great week.

This week I am sharing a most delicious
and easy summer treat.

Honey Lavender Panna Cotta



The Panna Cotta is infused w/ lavender (oh heaven!)
and then I used some honey to drizzle over the top.

Placed on a krumkake and adorned with
a thin fondant flower and edible sugar pearls
this is sure to delight the eyes and taste buds! 

I know I LOVED it!!!

The recipe was adapted from Tea Time Magazine and can be found and printed off my recipes page HERE!

I have been enjoying more iced tea lately and
experimenting with different flavors that I will
be sharing soon -I can't wait!!

But for now, how about a lovely 
Strawberry Iced Tea Recipe I found on Pinterest? 
Visit the original blog post at
Room for Dessert HERE!

Photo Credit
Have a great week!
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Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Candy Survival Kit


So I am mourning the loss of a really great
co-worker at my job. As a Physician Assistant I have
worked with a LOT of docs in my 13 years. Some good, others great. ML was beyond OUTSTANDING.

A wickedly smart critical care doctor 
with a great heart, she taught me a lot and is
probably one of the smartest people I have ever known.

Next to myself that is.....

When I wasn't planning her demise for leaving me, I
created a survival kit to take on to her next job. 
Here it is....



HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR NEW JOB AWAY FROM
FUN AND AWESOME PEOPLE LIKE ME……

Always remember the following:

1.       EVERYTHING YOU DEW, YOU ‘dew’ SO WELL

2.       YOU ARE ONE HECK OF A SMART COOKIE

3.       EVEN THOUGH I AM A NERD, YOU NEVER MADE 
ME FEEL LIKE A DUM DUM

4.       IF YOU EVER WANT TO CALL ME FOR ID QUESTIONS, 
I PROMISE I WON’T SNICKER

5.       WORKING WITH YOU WAS ALWAYS GOOD FOR A FEW  LAFFS


6.       ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PATIENTS YOU HAVE SAVED, 
THANK YOU FOR BEING THEIR LIVESAVER

7.       I HOPE YOUR NEW CO-WORKERS AREN’T A BUNCH OF GOOBERS

8.       WITHOUT YOU IN THE ICU, I AM SURE TO BECOME A 
BIG KRABBY PATTIE


9.       HAVING YOU LEAVE  REALLY SUCKS  
AND PRETTY MUCH BLOWS

Best wishes on your new adventure!  
I am sure you will be a ROCK star. 
Success will come for you no matter what you do in life because you understand that the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little EXTRA!

Mournfully Yours,
TS







Monday, May 14, 2012

Herbed Strawberry Tea Sandwiches! ~ Happy Tea Party Tuesday


Hello Friends and Fellow Tea Lovers!




Life has been so exciting lately and certainly
has been taking me away from creating and blogging
but that is just fine because I am very happy.

My husband and I along with another amazing
woman, Sarah, were chairs for my daughter's
Catholic Schools FIRST annual Gala held on May 5th.

It was a years worth of work and planning and 
to host the inaugural event was quite an accomplishment!

We raised a TON of money, WAY more than we
had hoped or expected and everyone had a great time.

While all the planning and responsibilities associated with hosting
such an important and large scale event can certainly be stressful, I have to say, that as a result of this experience I was able to come to know an amazing and wonderful woman, our co-chair, Sarah.

She is quite an extraordinary women for many, many reasons.
Let's just say, she inspires me and I am so glad to call her friend!

Since the event, James and I have been doing some much
needed relaxing and just "being together" as a family with Sophia.

It has been DELIGHTFUL!

With spring and warm weather in full swing, I
thought I would share one of my FAVORITE
recipes for a quick and delicious tea sandwich
that is always a crowd favorite.

Herbed Strawberry Tea Sandwiches 



Yield: 24 sandwiches

8 oz cream cheese softened
3 T minced fresh basil
1/2 cup slivered almonds toasted
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
1/4 tsp salt
8 slices honey wheat bread
1 lb strawberries, hulled thin sliced

Mix together cream cheese, basil, almonds, lemon zest and juice along with salt until well combined.
Spread on bread and top with strawberry slices and dill if desired.

In the picture here, I used a small flower cookie cutter and toasted this in my Babycakes Cupcake Maker to make little toast flower "bowls".  I piped the cream cheese w/ a #21 wilton tip. 

For a printable recipe click HERE!

Now enjoy with your favorite cup of tea, iced or hot!



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Monday, May 7, 2012

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Graduation Party Treats


Happy Tea Party Tuesday!

Graduation Parties will soon be in full bloom
so I thought I would quick bring back a fun idea
that I shared last year along with some cupcakes that
I have made along the way for some special graduates.

Graduation Hat & Diploma Sandwiches
The original post with recipe can be found HERE!! 



Very Festive and Fun!
And goes well with some warm, yummy tea, of course.  
The flavor combo is so tasty for both of these
sandwiches that I often whip them up and cut into triangles.
 

 How about a little SWEET to go with it?




This was part of a set I did for a gal
who got her MBA!!!  
I loved how they turned out. 

And these were done last year for a sweet
neighbor girl who graduated from High School. 



Have a super week!

Sharing with:
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Sunday, May 6, 2012

Happy Anniversary


April 26th, was
our 9 year Wedding Anniversary.







Although I spent all day with James
it was not particularly romantic.


I was undergoing a catheter ablation for
a pesky irregular heartbeat condition I have 
had the fortune of developing....not!

We exchanged cards 3 days later, as
 I came out of the fog.


We didn't exchange gifts, although, we never have.

And this is why....

On a daily basis we give each other the 
gift of EACH OTHER.


The gift of unconditional love.
The gift of unwavering support.
The gift of humor.
The gift of compassion and empathy.
The priceless gift of loyalty and friendship.

My husband took a chance on me over 9 years ago.
He never batted an eyelash when I told 
him about my brain tumor and ever since has been
in my corner for each and every triumph and challenge.


I admire and love him so much. 



I am profoundly lucky and so proud to be his wife!







 
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